High overshoe



latenied Sept. 29', 1942 UlTED Artnr ortica GE OVEBSHOE Leslie H. LHollier, Waltham, Mass., assigner to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 20, 1940, Serial No. 366,328

Claims.

In some prior constructions, the ankle portionsl of the overshoe have been adapted to t closely about the ankle of the wearer. This type of prior construction hasY presented difficulties in the matter of introducing a shod foot through the relatively small ankle portion of the overshoe and in subsequently removing the shod foot from the foot portion through the samerestricted Brea.

Attempts have been made to facilitate the donning and doiiing of overshoes, by the expedient of openings in the front or side of the leg portions of the overshoes, in a manner to permit opening up of the leg portion and thereby facilitate passage of the shod foot therethrough. This expedient has often added objectionably to the time required and the diiculties involved in donning and dofling overshoes as a result of the fasteners which are desirable to hold the'openings closed Whilethe article of footwear is being worn. The buckles, slide fasteners, laces or other types of holding devices must be manually fastened and unfastened each time the wearer dons or doffs the overshoe. The procedure of manually -fastening and unfastening the holding devices has been tedious and inconvenient particularly inasmuch as the wearer must bend over in order to manipulate the fasteners. A consequence of the inconvenience of fasteners has been for some wearers to allow the fasteners toremain open` while the overshoes have been in use in a manner such that the,released portions may iiap loosely.

Overshoe fasteners have been frequently found to corrode and break, to become caked with ice and snow and often to show the first evidence of wear in the overshoe.

Also, overshoes provided with openings or slits in the leg portions have been found to sacrifice a large part, if not all, of their waterproofing properties as a result of the inability of holding devices to adequately seal the openings/in the overfoot in the overshoe has been permitted.. Also,

prior constructions have often tended to be heavy and cumbersome and unattractive in appearance.

Articles of footwear with portions extending upward to encircle the legs of the wearer are desirable for use in inclement weather, and it is advantageous ifl such provision can be made while permitting donning and doiiing with a minimum expenditure of time-and effort. It is further desirable to provide a construction such that fasteners and holding devices are unnecessary and to incorporate good waterproof properties in a light-weight attractive construction.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide an article of footwear, incorporating ankle portions and leg portions, constructed in a manner such that a shod `foot may be quickly and conveniently placed in and withdrawn from 'said foot wear; to provide a substantially waterproof article of footwearfor use in inclement weather; to providev an article of footwear of the high overshoe type constructed in a manner so as to eliminate the necessity of manually manipulated fastening devices; and to provide means, incorporated in the foot portion of an overshoe, for holding a shod foot against movement, especially up and down movement, relative to said foot portion while being held therein.

Other objects are to provide a light-weight article of footwear of neat appearance for use in inclement weather, and to provide for economy of materials and convenience of manufac- These andfurther objects will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an overshoe constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, a part being broken away and sectioned.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the overshoe of Fig. 1 as it appears in use, parts being broken y away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a'modifed construction.

Cumbersome bellows constructions g Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the overshoe of Fig. 5 as it appears in use.

In accordance with the invention, an article of footwear, comprising a leg portion I0 adapted to extend over the ankle and,lower leg of a wearer, and a` foot portion, indicated generally at II, is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The foot portionl II is constructed to enclose an ordinary shoe and incorporates a reinforced counter I2, an outsole I3, and a heel Il. The foot portion II and the leg portion VIll are preferably constructed of two pieces of lining material I5, I5 which arey joined at seams I6, I6 as shown in Fig. 3, the seams extending vertically from the top of the leg portion down the front of the leg portion and over the center of the vamp and the toe of the foot portion to the tread, and down the back of the leg portion and center of the counter to the heel.

A two-piece lining, seamed as hereinabove described, is desirable to provide a balanced construction, and further provides for economy of materials and convenience of manufacture. The lining is preferably of fabric material, extensible in at least one direction, as for example, stockinet material. In order to best combine the embodiment of a two-piece lining with lining material possessing maximum extensibility transversely of its wales, the lining material is disposed with the wales of the material extending diagonally about the leg portion I and in a direction generally lengthwise of the foot portion I I. Preferably, the stockinet material is so disposed that the wales in each of the two pieces extend diagonally from points on the rear seam to lower points on the front seam.

The stockinet lining material so disposed provides desirable transverse stretchability in the leg portion and some longitudinal stretchability,

where great extensibility is desirable so that .the` ankle portion may be of sufciently limited circumference to hold the shod foot firmly in the shoe portion and yet may be extended when desired to permit passage of the shod foot therethrough. The great stretchability in the ankle portion is provided by the highly extensible material and the diagonal disposition of the wales about the ankle portion of the overshoe.

A smoothly continuous covering layer I1, I1 of highly extensible rubber or rubber-like material is applied to the fabric lining I5, I5. The rubber and fabric construction provides the footwear with extensibility while also providing adequate strength of construction and good waterproofing. The extensibility of the leg and ankle portions is indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1.

The leg portion of the overshoe type article of footwear is constructed substantially fuller than the leg to be inserted thereinto to provide exceptionally easy passage of a shod foot therethrough.

The top margins of the leg portion of the overshoe preferably extend substantially at right angles to said leg portion thereby providing maximum weatherproofing and facilitating the adapting of a guard to the top margins if such an expedient'is desired as hereinafter described The addition of reinforcing strips I8, I8 along the seams I6, I6 in the fabric I5, I5 and between the fabric lining I5, I' and the rubber covering l1, I1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, provide the loose-fitting, light-weight leg portion With sufficient rigidity to make it self-sustaining, without detracting materially from the light-Weight, loose-fitting properties which are desirable in the overshoe and the rubber preferably is of such a thickness as to contribute to the self-sustaining properties without detracting objectionably from the easy stretchability bf the material and the lightweight character of the article. The reinforcing strips may be of any suitable material, but are preferably strips of fabric such as binding tape. The construction may be further reinforced by the provision of layers of rubber I9, I9 between the reinforcing strips I8, I8 and the fabric I5, I5, with the reinforcing strips I8, IB adjacent to the outer rubber covering I1, I1.

Alternatively, the reinforcing strips may be adand maximum stretchability at the ankle portion jacent to the fabric and the lawers of rubber disposed between the reinforcing strips and theouter rubber covering or the rubber covering may be thickened at the sections where it covers the reinforcing strip. Also, a layer of rubber may be disposed on each side of the reinforcing strips if desired.

The counter I2 of the foot portion of the overshoe is further reinforced as shown in Figs. 1 and`4. An' added piece of fabric 20 or other reinforcing material extends around the counter I2 and is preferably placed inside and adjacent the rubber covering, the reinforcing strip I8 being disposed between the added reinforcing piece 2U and the fabric I5, I5, and the layer of rubber I9 being placed on one or both sides of the reinfpraA ing strip I8. The added reinforcement gives Athe counter semi-rigidity and aids in ho!ding a shot foot firmly therein.

A drawn-in portion 2| of the overshoe is formed immediately above the bunch' 22 in -the counter, and tapering upward at 23 to the full leg portion of the overshoe. The tapered portion 23 is highly extensible by reason ofthe position of the Wales of the stretchable lining which extend diagonally about the ankle portion. The tapered portion 23 and the drawn-in portion 2l, being immediately above the counter and in the highly stretchable ankle portion, act as a. shoe horn in admitting the shod foot to the foot por-- tion of the overshoe. The drawn-in portion holds the shod foot in the foot portion and restricts up and d'own movement of the shoe in the foot portion when in use, while providing sufficient stretchability to permit easy donning and dofling of the overshoe. I

To prevent entrance of water and snow over A the top of the overshoe, a guard 24 of extensible .fabric material or other suitable extensible ma- Figs. 1 and 2, thereby enhancing the waterproofing properties of the overshoe and holding the trouser leg firmly within the overshoe.

A strap 25 and buckle 26 may be placed to extend across the instep of the overshoe for decorative purposes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to further enhance the attractive appearance of the overshoe. The strap may be desirable for holding the instep of the overshoe firmly against the instep of the shoe therein, thereby preventing up and down movement of the shoe in the overshoe in cases where overshoes are fitted overly large, as for example, in overshoes for growing children.

The unbroken rubber-covering construction lends itself well to an attractive appearance and to decorative variations.

Whiledesirable in some cases, the guard 24 or strap 25 or both may be eliminated if desired.

In the modified construction of Figs. 5 and 6, means are provided whereby the material of the full leg portion may be quickly and easily folded; against itself when in use and held by a suitable fastener 21, preferably of the convenient snap fastener type as shown. The modified embodiment is adapted to be folded in such a manner that when folded the leg portion closely encircles the leg of the wearer, thereby firmly holding the trousers legs and preventing the entry of water and snow into the overshoe.

A high overshoe constructed in accordance with the invention combines exceptional ease of donadapted that the shod foot is held nrmiy in the foot portion of the overshoe. The ease of donning and doiiing is made possible by the fullness of the leg portion, the transverse and also vertical extensibility which may be incorporated in the material of the leg portion, the shoe-horn effect of .thedrawn-in portion directly above the counter, and the absence of complicated fasteners. The good waterproofing properties are provided by the rubber covering and the unbroken construction extending to the top of the leg portion. The semi-rigid counter construction and .the drawn-in portion directly above the counter hold the shod foot firmly and resist or avoid any tendency for the shod foot to move up and down in the overshoe. The overshoe is of remarkably light-weight, presents a neat appearance and provides for economy of materials and convenience of manufacture.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope'of the invention as it is deiined by the following claims:

I claim: 4

1. A high, light-weight overshoe adapted to be I' easily mounted over a shoe and to extend upwardly along the leg of the wearer in a loose but totally-encircling, weatherproof manner while being held by said shoe against'slippage 2. A high, light-weight overshoe adapted to ne easilymounted over a shoe and to extend upwardly along theleg of the wearer in a loose but totally-encircling, weatherproof manner while being held by said shoe against slippage,

said overshoe comprising a rubber covered and fabric lined foot portion and leg portion, a stiffening counter being incorporated in the back of l said overshoe, the overshoe having an indented portion at the upper margin of the counter and a highly elastic portion tapering upward and outward into the full leg portion of the overshoe in a manner to facilitate entrance of a.' shod foot into the foot portion of said overshoe by virtue .i

of the stretchability ofsaid elastic portion and to hold said shod foot thereinagainst slippage, said elastic portion of the lining being of stockinet the wales of which extend diagonally from points at the rear of the article to points of respectivelydierent level at the frontthereof about the leg portion to provide up and down stretchability of the leg portion for facilitating passage of said indented portion over the shone oi' the wearer.

3. A high, light-weight overshoe adapted to be easily mounted over a shoe and to extend upwardly along the leg of the wearer in a loose but totally-encircling, weatherproof manner while being held by said shoe against slippage thereon, said overshoe comprising a i'oot portion and a leg portion of thin, highly extensible rubber extending smoothly and unbrokenly thereover, a two-piece, extmsible stockinet lining, having reinforced seams medially inthe front and back of said overshoe, the wales of said stockinet lining extending diagonally from points on the rear seam to lower points on the front seam about the leg portion and the ankle portion providing up and down stretchability as well as circumferential stretehability in such portions and extending generally lengthwise in the foot portion, and a stiffening counter in the back of said overshoe, the overshoe comprising an indented portion immediately above the counter and a highly elastic portion tapering upward andA outward into the -full leg portion of the overshoe in a manner to facilitate entrance of a shod foot into the foot portion of said overshoe by virtue of the up and' down and circumhaving seams medially in the front and back of said overshoe, the wales Aof said stockinet lining extending diagonally from points on the rear seam to lower points on the front seam about the leg portion and the ankle portion providing up and down stretchability as well as circumferential stretchability in such portions'and extending generally lengthwise in the foot portion of said overshoe.

5. A high, light-weight overshoe adapted to be easily mounted over a shoe and to extend upwardly along the leg of the wearer in a loose but totally-encircling. weatherproof manner while being held by said shoe against slippage thereon, said overshoe comprising a foot portion and a leg portion, the leg portion terminating at the top extremity thereof in a margin extending substantially at right angles to the leg portion, said foot portion and leg portion comprising a thin covering of highly extensible rubber extending smoothly and unbrokenly thereover. a two-piece, extensible stockinet lining, having seams medially in the front and back of said overshoe, the wales of said stockinet lining extending diagonally about the leg portion and ankle portion providing up and down stretchability as well as circumferential stretchability in such portions and extending generally lengthwise in the foot portion, reinforcing strips and reinforcing layers of rubber disposed along the length of said seams and between the rubber covering and the stockinet lining`of said over.- shoe, a stiiening counter in the back of said overshoe, the overshoe comprising an indented portion immediately above the counter and sa highly elastic portion tapering upward land outward into the full leg portion of the overshoe in a manner to facilitate entrance of a shod foot into the foot portion of said overshoe by virtue of the up and down and circumferential stretchability of said elastic portion and to hold .said shod foot therein against slippage. and a .opening interrupting the conical surface to receive the leg of the wearer.

H. I rrrontnirz.` 

